Apparatus for Assisted Buckle Release

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for assisted buckle release employing a generally C-shaped, V-shaped, or U-shaped assistive device adapted to depress a buckle’s release button, such as a button typical of a child car seat restraint harness, and thereby assist in unlocking the buckle.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This continuing application claims the benefit of continuing ApplicationNo. 17/969,158 filed on Oct. 16, 2022 which in turn claims the benefitof continuing Application, 17/696,987 filed on Mar. 17, 2022, whichclaimed the benefit of continuing Application 17/237,231 filed on Apr.22, 2021, which claimed the benefit of continuation-in-part ApplicationNo. 16/675,305, filed on Nov. 6, 2019, which claimed the benefit ofcontinuation-in-part Application No. 16/278,021, filed on Feb. 15, 2019,which in turn claims the benefit of Nonprovisional Application No.15/699,198, filed on Sep. 8, 2017.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates in general to the field of occupantrestraint systems and more particularly, but not by way of limitation toan apparatus that assists with the depression of actuator buttons onrestraint harnesses to facilitate release of the buckle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Occupant restraint systems are well known. They typically have a firstpiece of belting having a buckle at one end and an opposite end isanchored in place. The anchoring may be either by direct fastening orvia a device such as a retractor. A tongue is attached to a free end ofa second piece of belting whose opposite end is also anchored. When therestraint system is in use to restrain a seated occupant, the two piecesof belting are connected by inserting the tongue of the second piece ofbelting into the buckle of the first piece of belting and adjusting therestraint around the occupant.

The buckle comprises a casing which contains a spring-loaded latchingmechanism for releasably latching the buckle to the tongue. A typicalbuckle casing comprises an aperture which exposes an actuating buttonfor depression by a person’s thumb or fingertip to cause the latchingmechanism to release the buckle from the latched condition. In today’stypical buckle, the area of the actuating button, which is exposed bythe aperture, approximates that of the thumb or fingertip. The actuatingbutton surface against which the thumb or fingertip presses is generallyflush with the surface of the casing containing the aperture.Oftentimes, a smaller version of this same type of buckle and actuatingbutton assembly is used in child restraint seats designed to secure anoccupant, such as a baby or child, in place. The actuating buttonassembly installed in child restraint seats is regulated by the FederalMotor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS), which recommends a minimumrequired release force to depress the actuating button of 40 N (Newton)or 9.0 lbf (pound-force).

For any number of various reasons, a person may be impaired fromdepressing the actuating button with this amount of force and, thus,unable to unlatch a child restraint seat buckle of this type. Forinstance, caregivers may have arthritis in their hands, which impactsthe strength with which they can apply pressure in their thumbs tosufficiently depress the actuator button with the required force torelease the buckle and remove the child from the car seat. With theincrease in the number of grandparent caregivers, the lack of requiredthumb or finger strength presents a significant problem for theconvenience of mobility in an automotive vehicle while caring for ayoung child. Further, the situation poses risks to child safety if thecaregiver does not properly buckle the child to thereby make it easierfor the caregiver to release the buckle when necessary. In addition toarthritis, other circumstances may arise where caregivers lacksufficient hand strength, including carpel tunnel syndrome, tendonitis,and chronic or temporary conditions or injuries.

The existing prior art in U.S. Pat. No. 8,539,862, which is incorporatedherein by reference, seeks to address many of the foregoingdifficulties. However, for those with arthritis in their hands andfingers, gripping edges of the housing element is difficult or painful,resulting in an inadequate ability to exert the required pressure torelease the buckle. Additionally, the prior art lacks a backing tosupport the intended use, resulting in the need to position a free handwithout guidance, or to push hard against the occupant of the car seatand apply uncomfortable pressure. The prior art offers no method forreducing or otherwise alleviating the amount of force required by theuser to release the buckle.

Other attempts at addressing the difficulties described above includethe use of pliers to depress the button and release the buckle from thelatched condition. For example, a pair of standard pliers may bemodified to have a protrusion on an end thereof to allow the protrusionto press the release button when the pliers are closed. However, thissolution does not address the difficulty experienced by users witharthritis and other hand ailments. Oftentimes, users with arthritis havea difficult time using scissors or pliers due to the manual dexterityrequired. Therefore, a solution is needed that allows the button to bedepressed in a method that requires minimal thumb or finger strength.

In another prior art attempt to address the difficulties describedabove, a lever arm is attached to the seat belt below the buckle. Thelever arm has a protrusion thereon so that when force is applied to anopposite end of the lever, the protrusion depresses the button. Whilethis solution allows pressure to be applied using the palm of the hand,rather than relying on individual finger strength, it requires a user toapply pressure straight into the buckle. This is often difficult toaccomplish because the parent or guardian is normally reaching in fromthe side of the car seat when trying to unbuckle the occupant. Oneadditional drawback of this type of lever arm is that it requires thedevice to be affixed to the strap of the car seat as a source ofleverage, which poses a safety risk if a child learns to use the deviceto release the latch, but lacks the maturity to know when it is safe todo so. By remaining affixed to the car seat, the device has thepotential to enable a child to release the latch while the car is inmotion.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The buckle release assistive device of the present invention seeks toovercome the prior art by addressing these considerations with a uniquedesign that was developed by an occupational therapist specializing inhand therapy with expertise in designing rehabilitative solutions foractivities required in daily life. Unique features of the design, whichdistinguish it from the prior art, may include, among other features,the use of a lever arm to reduce pressure required to push the device,no longer requiring dependency on the fingers for gripping the buckle,and the ability to use the device from a side of the occupant forexpedient release of the buckle and emergent removal of the occupantfrom under the restraints.

The present apparatus for assisted buckle release has been devised toprovide facility in depressing the actuator button of a car seatrestraint harness to expediently effect release of the buckle from itslocking engagement of the car seat restraint harness in a less painfuland more convenient manner than through pressing the actuator buttondirectly. The present method is applicable to a variety of automotivevehicle occupant restraint systems including, but not limited to, childcar seat restraint systems.

It is another objective of the present method to alleviate hand orfinger pain caused by repetitive motion in depressing the pre-existingactuator button of vehicle occupant restraint systems including, but notlimited to, child car seat restraint systems.

Yet another objective of the present method is to provide a useful andsafe means for individuals with chronic hand pain or limited handfunction to use a standard vehicle occupant restraint systems including,but not limited to, child car seat restraint systems.

The present apparatus and method for assisted buckle release, therefore,employs use of a buckle release assistive device which is specificallyadapted to facilitate depression of the buckle release button devised torelease the restraining belts interconnected therewith. As outlinedabove, many car restraints operable upon car seats, for example, employa buckle connection that is releasable via depression of an out-facingbutton disposed thereupon.

The present apparatus increases the facility of disconnecting therestraints by presenting a first and a second wing, conformedergonomically to the hand of a user, anteriorly projected from amidportion, whereby compression of the said first and second wingstogether is ergonomically facilitated between the user’s thumb andfingers, for example, or between the user’s thenar and fingers. Aprotuberance, projected intermedially from one of the said wings, isaligned with and then forced against the release button by compressionof the first and second wing together. Depressing the release button,and releasing the restraints from the buckle, is therefore renderedeasier for the user, due to the increased torque and pressure appliedthrough the protuberance to effectuate depression of the button andremoval of the restrains may be effectuated more quickly. This,therefore, facilitates release of the restraints with less force anddiscomfort required of the user.

For users who suffer from reduced ability to actually grasp the firstand second wing, the present apparatus may further include an arcuatebody disposed arched overtop the first wing to enable engagement overtopthe dorsal of the user’s hand. The arcuate body therefore enables a userto slide a hand between an undersurface of the arcuate body and an outersurface of the first wing whereby the arcuate body engages against thedorsal of the user’s hand. The apparatus is thereby securable to theuser’s hand for use depressing the release button without the userhaving to actually grasp the apparatus and effectuate manual compressionof the first and second wings together. Secured to the hand, a user maysimply press via the palm and effectuate release of the buckle.

In at least one contemplated embodiment, the arcuate body is attached tothe first wing at both ends. In another example embodiment, only one endof the arcuate body is attached, or attachable, to the first wingproximal to a terminus thereof.

The aforementioned broadly outlines the more important features of thepresent apparatus for assisted buckle release, where the detaileddescription thereof that follows may be better understood and in orderthat the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated.

Other objectives and advantages of the present apparatus for assistedbuckle release will become apparent to those skilled in the art as amore detailed explanation of the invention is presented below. Thedrawings disclose a buckle release assistive device, according to onepossible embodiment, devised for employing the present method ofassisted buckle release. The above summary of the invention is notintended to represent each embodiment or every aspect of the presentinvention. Particular embodiments may include one, some, or none of thelisted advantages.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete understanding of the method and apparatus of the presentinvention may be obtained by reference to the following DetailedDescription when taken in conjunction with the accompanying Drawingswherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a buckle release assistive deviceaccording to an example embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of an example embodiment of the bucklerelease assistive device;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of an example embodiment of the bucklerelease assistive device;

FIG. 4 is a top elevation view of an example embodiment of the bucklerelease assistive device;

FIG. 5 is a bottom elevation view of an example embodiment of the bucklerelease assistive;

FIG. 6 is a rear elevation view of an example embodiment of the bucklerelease assistive device;

FIG. 7 is a front elevation view of an example embodiment of the bucklerelease assistive device; and

FIG. 8 is a flow chart illustrating an exemplary method of using anembodiment of the buckle release assistive device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring to FIG. 1 , the buckle release assistive device 10contemplated for use with the present method herein disclosed includes asubstantially C-shaped or U-shaped body 20 having a first wing 30 and asecond wing 40 disposed spaced apart and projected anteriorly from amid-portion 50. The first wing 30 and the second wing 40 thereforeoccupy parallel planes to delimit an intermediate space 60 therebetween.

The first wing 30 is disposed to position overtop the front of thebuckle 100 to which the device 10 is applied and the second wing 40 isdisposed to position overtop the rear of the buckle 100 to which thedevice 10 is applied. Thus the device 10 is fittable around a buckle 100to position the buckle 100 interior to the intermediate space 60.

The first wing 30 includes an outer surface 32 extensive from themid-portion 50 to a terminus 34. As best shown in FIGS. 1 and 4 , theouter surface 32 widens towards apical edge 36 disposed at the terminus34 at a farthest extremity from the mid-portion 50. The outer surface 32therefore presents an area for contact with the hand of a user andpresents a flat surface for engagement therewith. In some embodiments,the outer surface may be overlain with a polymeric overmold, devised tobe accommodating and yielding to the touch. In the example embodimentdepicted, and best shown in FIG. 4 , the apical edge 36 is rounded toprevent harmful contact or discomfort in use.

In some embodiments, and as best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 , the first wing30 may also include a sloped member 39 disposed longitudinally upon theinner surface 38 thereof, between the apical edge 36 and theprotuberance 70. The sloped member 39 may assist in fitting theassistive device 10 around the buckle 100, by siding engagement againstthe buckle 100 as the assistive device 10 is oriented into position,whereby the buckle 10 is forced to position in the intermediate space 60with the buckle’s release button 102 positioned directly situatedunderneath the protuberance 70 at the end of the sloped member 39. Thesloped member 39 may further act to strengthen the protuberance 70, tostabilize the protuberance 70, and prevent breakage thereof during use.

The second wing 40 also includes an outer surface 42 extensive from themid-portion 50 to terminus 44. As best shown in FIG. 5 , the outersurface 42 widens toward apical edge 46 disposed at the terminus 44 at afarthest extremity from the mid-portion 50. In some embodiments, theouter surface may be overlain with a polymeric overmold, devised to beaccommodating and yielding to the touch. In the example embodimentdepicted herein, while maintaining a similar width relative to andcoextensive with the first wing 30, the second wing 40 has alongitudinal axis that is shorter than the longitudinal axis of thefirst wing 30. Thus, as best shown in FIG. 5 , the first wing 30 extendsits apical edge 36 farther from the mid-portion 50 than the second wing40 and therefore overhangs the second wing 40 some distance. In theexample embodiment depicted, and best shown in FIG. 5 , the apical edge46 is also rounded to prevent harmful contact of discomfort when in use.

As is best shown in FIG. 3 , outer surface 42 of the second wing 40 mayinclude transverse recess 49 disposed at terminus 44, said transverserecess 49 adapted to accommodate the intermediate phalanx of the user’sforefinger when engaging the buckle release assistive device 10, as willbe explained forthwith.

The first wing 30 further includes an inner surface 38, disposed facingthe second wing 40 on one side of the intermediate space 60. Likewise,the second wing 40 includes an inner surface 48, disposed facing thefirst wing 30 on the other side of the intermediate space 60. In theembodiment exemplified herein, a protuberance 70 is disposed projectingfrom the inner surface 38 of the first wing 30 into the intermediatespace 60. The protuberance 70 includes an actuator surface 72 devised toseat against a button 102 of buckle 100, said actuator surface 72 sizedappropriate therefor. The actuator surface 72 may include tractivemembers or other coating and/or surface features devised to increasefriction against the button 102 to which the buckle release assistivedevice 10 is engaged.

As best shown in FIG. 2 , the protuberance 70 may be disposed mediallyalong the length of the first wing 30. The distance between theprotuberance 70 and the apical edge 36 of the first wing 30 thereforerepresents a lever arm distance which increases torque when applyingpressure to the button 102 to which the buckle release assistive device10 is engaged. The surface area of each of the wings 30, 40 relative thesurface area of the actuator surface 72 of the protuberance 70 creates apressure differential wherein a force manually applied to the pair ofwings 30, 40 is increased by distribution through the lesser surfacearea exhibited at the actuator surface 72, thus increasing efficacy indepressing an associated actuator button 102 underlying the actuatorsurface 72 of the protuberance 70. Thus, the device and method isoperable as an assistive buckle release due to lever arm distance(increased torque) as well as pressure.

It should be noted, therefore, that the present method is employablewith similar assistive devices (not shown) that orient the protuberance70 at different locations along the length of the first wing 30,including embodiments that have the protuberance 70 at the terminus 34of the first wing 30, say, or rendered as a projection disposed towardthe second wing 40 from the apical edge 36 of the terminus 34, the mainutility of the present method residing in the ability to depress button102 indirectly and by action of the assistive device 10 disposed engagedaround the buckle 100 proper, rather than any appreciable increase ordecrease in action enabled by an associated lever arm distance. Sinceforce is more easily applied by a user in contracting the handgenerally, by leveraging the anatomy of the hand and its musculaturebetween opposing digits, such as the thumb and forefinger, or thenar andfingers, for example, as opposed to depressing with a single digit suchas a finger or thumb in a single direction, the actual position of theprotuberance 70 upon the inner surface 38 of the first wing 30 is oflesser consequence than the position of each of the first and secondwings 30, 40 occupying planes defining an intermediate space 60 adaptedto accommodate the buckle 100 therein. The expanse of the upper surfaces32, 42 likewise increases facility in employment of the present method.Thus, the assistive device 10 enables greater facility in effectuatingrelease of a buckle 100 by increased torque, pressure, and manualengagement accommodative of the physical anatomy of the hand in general.

Mid-portion 50 is devised to be to enable compression of the first wing30 and the second wing 40 together. Thus, the present buckle releaseassistive device 10 may be readily positioned with the first and secondwing 30, 40 disposed on either side of the buckle 100. The distancebetween inner side 54 of mid-portion 50 and the protuberance 70 may bematched to the dimensions of the buckle 100 whereby the protuberance 70is maintained directly overtop the button 102 when the buckle 100 abutsthe inner side 54. A simple squeeze by the user then effects depressionof the button 102 and release of the restraints 104.

In the example embodiment depicted herein, attachment member 56 isdisposed upon an outer side 54 of the mid-portion 50 to enableinterconnection with a key ring, or example, or another article, item,or accouterment, suited for porting or storing the present device 10.

FIG. 8 depicts a flow chart illustrating the steps of the present method500 employed when using the instant device. A user first places theassistive device around a buckle, to engage the buckle interior to theintermediate space. Once positioned so that the protuberance is disposeddirectly overtop the buckle release button, the user grasps termini andsqueezes together. The actuator surface of the protuberance thereforeengages against the button and depresses it effectuating the release oftongues of the restraint belts. The buckle release assistive device maythen be disengaged from around the buckle by sliding in the direction ofthe mid-portion and thence stored as desired.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus for assistive buckle release forfacilitating the release of vehicular restraints interconnected with abuckle, said apparatus comprising: an engagement portion configured tobe positioned against the undersurface of the buckle or restraint; agenerally planar lever arm connected to the engagement portion, saidlever arm comprising: a basal side; a dorsal side; a first end disposedconnected to the engagement portion; a second end disposed projected atan extremity away from the engagement portion; a body section disposedfrom the first end to the second end; and a protuberance projected fromthe basal side of the lever arm; wherein the protuberance is closer tothe first end than the second end; wherein the thickness of the leverarm at the portion that is adjacent to the protuberance is the samethickness as the second end; wherein the apparatus surrounds at leastthree sides of the buckle or restraint through at least 270° with theengagement portion in contact against an undersurface of the buckle orrestraint; wherein the assistive device facilitates release of therestraints interconnected with the buckle by increasing torque and/orpressure at the protuberance when applied in contact with a releasebutton.
 2. The apparatus for assisted buckle release of claim 1 whereinthe protuberance comprises an actuator surface configured to seatagainst the release button of the existing buckle.
 3. The apparatus forassisted buckle release of claim 2 wherein the actuator surface isconfigured to increase frictional engagement against the release buttonof the buckle.
 4. The apparatus for assisted buckle release of claim 2wherein at least a portion of the lever arm comprises a yielding,polymeric overmold.
 5. The apparatus for assisted buckle release ofclaim 1 wherein ends of the lever arm and engagement portion are roundedto prevent harmful contact.
 6. The apparatus for assisted buckle releaseof claim 1 wherein the body section is disposed along an arc.
 7. Theapparatus for assisted buckle release of claim 1 wherein the engagementportion and the lever arm are not directly connected and are disposed oneither side of a midportion.
 8. The apparatus for assisted bucklerelease of claim 1 wherein the dorsal side of the lever arm between thelocation of the protuberance and the second end is flat or angular, andnot curved.
 9. The apparatus for assisted buckle release of claim 1wherein the width of the protuberance is less than the width of thelever arm.